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The Democratic primary for the 9th Congressional District continued to be about endorsements with days left until election day polls open in the contest between incumbent Steve Cohen and challenger Ricky E. Wilkins.

The Memphis Bar Association poll of attorneys on the judicial races on the Aug. 7 ballot shows 16 percent to as high as 38 percent of the attorneys participating have no opinion in many of the judicial races.

Laurie Williams, adult education coordinator at Memphis Botanic Garden, was recently awarded the Tennessee Urban Forestry Council’s President’s Award for her contribution to establishing and maintaining viable community forests in Tennessee. Williams was one of seven individuals the urban forestry council honored this year.

Dr. Karen Weddle-West, dean of the graduate school, vice provost for academic affairs and director of diversity initiatives at the University of Memphis, has been voted chair-elect of the GRE (Graduate Record Examination) Board. The national board establishes all policies for the GRE program, the most widely used graduate-school admissions test, and oversees GRE assessments, services and research.

Voter turnout in the most popular election cycle among Shelby County voters was 61.9 percent, about the same percentage as four years ago. But the 371,256 voters is fewer than 2008 when more than 400,000 Shelby County voters cast ballots. The percentage is about the same because there are fewer registered voters in Shelby County than there were four years ago after a purge by election officials.

Polls open across Shelby County at 7 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 2, in elections that already promise to be memorable for problems during the early voting period as well as the mixture of issues and one-of-a-kind contests on the ballot.

EVOLVING RESPONSE. The anachronistic Tennessee Legislature has awarded creationism equal scientific weight to evolution and declared that the prevailing religious belief of that body be offered as viable explanation to our school children for the order, formation and timing of the universe.

Lisa Pratt has been named senior account manager at Counterpart Communication Design, where she will manage campaigns for several clients from concept to execution. She previously worked at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

The chairman of the countywide school board, Billy Orgel, was effectively elected to his District 7 school board seat without opposition at the Thursday, April 5, filing deadline for candidates on the Aug. 2 primary and general election ballot in Shelby County.

It took Shelby County Commissioners nearly 10 hours Wednesday, Sept. 7, to interview nearly 100 contenders for seven appointments to the countywide school board that takes office Oct. 1.

The general government committee session with the applicants is a good indicator of what is likely to happen Monday when the full commission makes the appointments. The seven non-binding straw polls of the commission included selections by most of the 13-member body. But they selected either three or four finalists each which means there will probably a lot of shifts in votes Monday when commissioners are limited to one vote each.

Shelby County Commissioners have a busy day Wednesday as they interview 182 candidates for appointment to a 25 member countywide school board.

The deadline for the applications to the school board being contested in Memphis federal court was the end of the business day Tuesday. And there was a deadline rush with 32 applications on Tuesday alone.

Interim County Mayor Joe Ford became the Democratic nominee for mayor in the August county general elections Tuesday night.

And the August sheriff’s race will be a contest between Democrat Randy Wade and Republican Randy Wade.

All three were among the winners in Tuesday’s low turnout county primaries.

Approximately ten percent of Shelby County’s nearly 600,000 voters cast ballots in early voting and election day polling.

Ford, who was appointed interim mayor in December, beat County Commissioner Deidre Malone and General Sessions Court Clerk Otis Jackson in the Democratic primary. He will face Republican Mark Luttrell who had only token opposition in the Republican primary from perennial contender Ernie Lunati.

Luttrell has raised more money than all three of the Democratic primary contenders combined and began running television ads in the last week runup to election day.

The final unofficial totals in the Democratic mayoral primary are:

Ford 20,360 57%

Malone 12,916 37%

Jackson 2,168 6%

The pair of primaries for Sheriff featured eight candidates, seven of whom either currently work for the sheriff’s department or are past employees. Only Reginald French, in the Democratic primary was not a former or current department official.

Wade was the 2002 Democratic nominee, losing to Luttrell who is leaving as Sheriff after serving two terms. French was the Democratic nominee in the 2006 elections.

Oldham is Luttrell’s chief deputy, the number two position in the department. He is also a former director of the Memphis Police Department.

Voters in the primary elections decided to return six Shelby County commissioners to new four year terms with Tuesday’s results. They also elected six new commissioners. The winner of the thirteenth commission seat will be decided on the August general election ballot in a contest between district 5 Democratic incumbent Steve Mulroy and Republican challenger Dr. Rolando Toyos. The winner of the match up will determine whether the commission remains majority Democrat or goes majority Republican.

In the remaining ten contests, the primaries decided who gets the seats since no one ran in the opposing party’s primary.

The most hotly contested contest among the commission races was for District 4 Position 1. Outgoing Probate Court Clerk Chris Thomas beat John Pellicciotti, appointed to a commission seat last year but running for a different position in the same district. Jim Bomprezzi, the former mayor of Lakeland, was the third contender in the contest.

The final unofficial totals in the Republican primary:

Thomas 7,631 52%

Pellicciotti 4,871 33%

Bomprezzi 2,298 15%

In position 2 of the same district incumbent Republican Wyatt Bunker easily overcame two challengers with former Lakeland alderman John Wilkerson finishing second and Ron Fittes finishing third.

Millington businessman Terry Roland claimed the third position in the district that takes in all six of Shelby County’s suburban towns and cities.

Roland beat George Chism to take the seat Pellicciotti was appointed to but opted not to run for in deference to Roland.

Heidi Shafer, an aide to outgoing County Commissioner George Flinn, claimed Flinn’s District 1 Position 2 seat over Albert Maduska.in the GOP primary.

In the Democratic commission primaries, Melvin Burgess claimed Malone’s District 2 Position 3 seat in a field of six contenders. His closest contender was Reginald Milton. Burgess, a city school system audit manager, had run for the seat before. He brought in 54 percent of the vote.

The other hard fought Democratic commission primary saw Justin Ford, son of the interim mayor, claim his father’s District 3 Position 3 seat.

Ford beat Edith Moore, a retired IBM executive, whom the commission appointed to the seat after the elder Ford became mayor.

The final unofficial vote totals are:

Ford 7,342 66%

Moore 3,822 34%

Democratic incumbent commissioners Henri Brooks, Sidney Chism and James Harvey were all re-elected over primary challengers.

The county-wide primaries for seven clerk’s positions saw the return of former Criminal Court Clerk Minerva Johnican 16 years after Republican challenger Bill Key took her job. Johnican decisively beat Ralph White and Vernon Johnson in her first bid for office since the 1994 defeat. She will face Republican Kevin Key, the son of Bill Key in the August general election.

The final unofficial vote totals are:

Johnican 16,381 51%

White 10,170 31%

Johnson 5,954 18%

Former Juvenile Court Clerk Shep Wilbun easily won the Democratic primary with 76 percent of the vote to face Republican Joy Touliatos in August for the office being vacated by Republican Steve Stamson. Touliatos was unopposed in the primary.

Aside from Leatherwood, Jimmy Moore is the only other of the seven clerks seeking re-election. Moore ran unopposed in the GOP primary. He will face Democrat Ricky Dixon in August.

Trustee Regina Newman was appointed to her office following the death last year of Paul Mattila. Newman easily overcame M LaTroy Williams in Tuesday’s Democratic primary. She will face David Lenoir, who beat former Shelby County Commissioner John Willingham in the Republican contest.

The final unofficial vote totals are:

Lenoir 15,922 58%

Willingham 11,569 42%

The other six candidate field on the ballot was in the Democratic primary for Probate Court Clerk. Sondra Becton posted impressive vote totals over her rivals, bringing in 35 percent of the vote with Peggy Dobbins her closest rival. Becton, who is making her fourth bid for the office, will face Republican Paul Boyd, who ran unopposed in his primary.

The closest contest of the evening was in the Democratic primary for County Clerk. Wrestling promoter and television personality Corey Maclin won his political debut by less than 1,400 votes over Charlotte Draper and LaKeith Miller. He will face Republican Wayne Mashburn who beat Steve Moore in the companion primary.

Early voting in advance of the Aug. 5 election day begins July 16. The August ballot will also feature state and federal primary elections including the statewide primaries for governor and the primaries for all nine of the state’s Congressional districts.

Giacomo Puccini’s “Madame Butterfly” is one of the most performed operas in the world, but Opera Memphis’ upcoming production offers audiences who have “been there, done that” new reasons to enjoy it once again.

Meanwhile, the Democratic primary for mayor grew to three contenders as General Sessions Court Clerk Otis Jackson filed his qualifying petition just before the deadline. He joins interim County Mayor Joe Ford and Shelby County Commissioner Deidre Malone.

Luttrell ruled out a bid for Shelby County mayor last year (2009). But when Harold Byrd decided not to run in the Democratic primary, some local GOP leaders asked Luttrell to reconsider.

The result touched off a scramble of candidates from both parties for the open sheriff’s office. But before the noon deadline, the initial field of over a dozen possible contenders was narrowed to ten – six Democrats and four Republicans.

The other surprise at the filing deadline was the return of attorney Walter Bailey to the District 2 Position 1 seat he gave up in the 2006 elections. Bailey sought re-election then to another term despite a two term limit on commissioners. Bailey lost to J.W. Gibson who decided not to seek re-election. He also lost a court fight to overturn the term limits.

Bailey was the only candidate who had filed for the seat at the Thursday deadline.

Only one incumbent county commissioner – Republican Mike Ritz -- was effectively re-elected at the deadline because he had no opposition.

All but one of the eleven contested County Commission races will be decided with the May 4 primaries. The only general election battle for the August ballot is the district 5 contest between GOP challenger Dr. Rolando Toyos and whoever wins the May Democratic primary between incumbent Steve Mulroy and Jennings Bernard.

Former County Commissioner John Willingham also returned to the ballot among a field of Republican contenders in the primary for Shelby County Trustee.

And former Criminal Court Clerk Minerva Johnican joined the Democratic primary field for her old job. Incumbent Republican Bill Key pulled petition to seek re-election but did not file at the deadline.

Here is the list of races and contenders from The Shelby County Election Commission. All candidate have until noon Feb. 25 to withdraw from the ballot if they wish.

Attorneys for a man who claims he was abused by a Catholic priest more than 30 years ago are expected to file their answer this week to an appeal by the local diocese to the Tennessee Court of Appeals.

The last pending civil lawsuit alleging child sexual abuse by a Memphis priest remained alive this week.

Circuit Court Judge D’Army Bailey denied a motion Monday by the Catholic Diocese of Memphis to dismiss the lawsuit filed against it by Norman Redwing. Redwing alleges, in the lawsuit filed last October, that he was abused by the Rev. Milton Guthrie in the 1970s.

One of several civil lawsuits alleging child sexual abuse by a Memphis Catholic priest has been dismissed the same week the Tennessee Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal in a similar case from Memphis.

One of several civil lawsuits alleging child sexual abuse by a Memphis Catholic priest has been dismissed the same week that the Tennessee Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal in a similar case out of Memphis.

Karen Garner remembers the inaugural Vesta Home Show in 1984, when she worked in the concession stand as one of many volunteer homebuilders.

Nearly a quarter century later – after working every Vesta Home Show since its debut – Garner is president of Magnolia Homes Inc. and one of the featured builders at this year’s installment of the event, run by the Memphis Area Home Builders Association (MAHBA).

They never received their free tickets to University of Memphis football games and the university doesn't offer freebies for basketball games.

So, it would appear members of the Shelby County Board of Commissioners are hoping for a quiet off-season after a controversial tweaking of the four-month-old ethics ordinance covering county government.

The first law book Evan Nahmias ever picked up was about a case involving legendary Beatles guitarist George Harrison. That famous name caught the eye of Nahmias, who then was an undergraduate student at the University of Arizona.

Memphis City Council members are expecting more than two dozen contenders to consider for the vacant District 8 Position 2 Super District seat on the council.

They include the owner of a neighborhood grocery store, an insurance executive, seasoned political partisans, a courthouse security guard, perennial candidates, a math teacher and neighborhood activists.

Dave Robbins of Crawford, Smith & Sharp LLC recently was awarded the Certified Restorer (CR) designation from the Association of Specialists in Cleaning and Restoration. The CR designation is the highest recognition awarded in the restoration industry. Since its inception in 1976, only 485 individuals have earned the designation.

The Animal Protection Association is holding its annual Feral February event. This program offers services such as spaying, neutering and rabies shots for feral (alley) cats. The cost is $25. For more information or to donate, call Barbara Standing at 210-1328 or visit www.spaymemphis.com.

The Memphis Brooks Museum of Art hosts "Marti Gras," a tribute to Creole culture, art and food, today from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at 1934 Poplar Ave. The event includes a tour of Maritza Davila's exhibit "Cityscapes and Country Views: America through Prints 1900-1955" at 7 p.m. Admission is free for members and $6 for non-members. Call 544-6209 for more information.

The Juvenile Court Ad Hoc Committee holds a public hearing today from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Hickory Hill Community Center, 3910 Ridgeway St. For more information, call 545-4301.

The Memphis chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) meets Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Parmasters Memphis, 888 S. White Station Road. Anita Black, CEO and founder of MO's Music and Art Café, is the guest speaker. She will discuss "Growing Your Business." Leslie Shankman Cohen also will discuss "Feng Shui for the Office." Admission is free for members and $45 for non-members. Call 844-3738 or visit www.nawbomemphis.org for more information.

Methodist Healthcare's latest innovation took place far from a laboratory or an operating room. It's called My M.D. and is in the fast-growing town of Oakland in Fayette County.

My M.D. opened last week in a shopping center off of U.S. 64, which runs right through the tiny hamlet. The response from the people who live in the town of about 2,500 was tremendous the first week the facility was open, according to those who work there.

Lyle Wardlaw has joined full-service advertising, marketing, design and public relations firm inferno as art director. Prior to that she spent three years providing design support for clients at Imre Communications and Babcock Advertising in the Washington, D.C., area. She graduated from Millsaps College in 1996 with a double major in studio art and elementary education, and has completed advertising and graphics programs from Memphis College of Art and Southwest Community College. In her position as art director, Wardlaw will serve clients and help with new creative projects.

Martha Boyd was named director of development for the Trezevant Manor Foundation.

The New York Times Co. Broadcast Media Group announced that Bruce Moore was named news director of WREG-TV in Memphis, effective Jan. 30. Moore is a 15-year veteran of WVEC-TV in Norfolk, Va. He served as assistant director of WVEC-TV for seven years. He graduated from the University of Georgia.

Circuit Court Judge Rita L. Stotts received the Marion Griffin-Frances Loring Award presented annually by the Association for Women Attorneys. The award recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to women in the legal profession.

Hands On Memphis and Butler, Snow, OMara, Stevens & Cannada host Make a Difference Day from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Hope & Healing Center, 1111 Union Ave. For details or to participate, call 725-2132 or vi...

Seven attorneys from Burch, Porter & Johnson were included in the 2003-2004 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. C. T...

59. Archived Article: Law Focus - Thursday, January 04, 2001 New Year Brings Mandatory Parenting Plan for Divorcing Couples New year brings mandatory plan for divorcing parents By MARY DANDO The Daily News As the clock struck midnight Sunday throughout Tennessee, a new law went in effect that touched on one o...

60. Archived Article: Mba P.2 - Friday, November 03, 2000 Bar Association announces nominees Bar Association announces nominees William H. Haltom Jr., president of the Memphis Bar Association, has released the report of the Nominations and Elections Committee for 2001. The 2001 president will be G. Patrick...

61. Archived Article: Memos - Wednesday, March 15, 2000 Memos: Memos: Lyle Reid, former chief justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court, has joined the law firm of Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs. Reid will serve as counsel in the firms Memphis and Nashville offices and will be involved in all areas of the firms...

62. Archived Article: Memos - Wednesday, July 14, 1999 New Vice President of Brand Management Former Todd E. Smith has been promoted to chief accounting officer for Omega Health Systems Inc. He formerly was vice president-financial and acquisition services. Smith is a graduate of Rhodes College. Beth C....

64. Archived Article: Gov't Cc - Monday, November 02, 1998 Expanding property lines within a planned development and the plan to use part of a city park for an oil company's facilities are two of the items to be considered at Tuesday's City Council meeting Extension, Mapco proposals on agenda By KATHLEEN BU...

65. Archived Article: Memos - Wednesday, September 02, 1998 Morgan Keegan Promotes Four Jeffrey C. Kline has been appointed vice president of fulfillment for Genesis Direct Inc. He will oversee operations at the companys local distribution center. Kline formerly was director of fulfillment operations for Nor...

66. Archived Article: Law Briefs - Thursday, July 09, 1998 The Memphis Bar Association announced the results of the associations Judicial Preference Election concerning all contested judicial and clerk races on Aug The Memphis Bar Association announced the results of the associations Judicial Preference Ele...

67. Archived Article: Back-state - Monday, December 29, 1997 State appoints commission State appoints commission on juvenile justice reform A 17-member panel has been named to rewrite state laws for juvenile offenders, Gov. Don Sundquist announced last week. The commission will focus on the current problems t...

68. Archived Article: Real Briefs - Tuesday, May 20, 1997 RE-MAX of Kentucky/Tennessee has announced its top office sales associates and new sales associates for March and April RE-MAX of Kentucky/Tennessee has announced its top office sales associates and new sales associates for March and April. Top sale...

71. Archived Article: Back - Monday, July 29, 1996 MBA members vote on best qualified judges MBA members vote on "best qualified" judges The Memphis Bar Association has announced the results of the associations Judicial Preference Poll concerning the contested elections in Circuit and Crim...

72. Archived Article: Govt Briefs - Friday, July 26, 1996 State tax collections were almost $508 million in June, a 6 State tax collections were almost $508 million in June, a 6.7 percent increase over June 1995. Revenue estimates were revised in April to recognize year-to-date undercollections through Mar...

73. Archived Article: Govt Briefs - Friday, July 19, 1996 The Tennessee departments of Revenue, Economic and Community Development, and Employment Security will sponsor a Bicentennial Open House on Monday The Tennessee departments of Revenue, Economic and Community Development, and Employment Security will...

75. Archived Article: Govt Briefs - Friday, June 21, 1996 The Shelby County Republican Party will sponsor a barbecue dinner on Saturday from 6 p The Shelby County Republican Party will sponsor a barbecue dinner on Saturday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the home of Margo Dixon, 235 Meadowgrove Lane, to raise fun...

76. Archived Article: Govt Briefs - Friday, June 07, 1996 The Shelby County Republican Party will sponsor a barbecue dinner June 22 from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the home of Margo Dixon, 235 Meadowgrove Lane, to raise funds for the Aug. 1 general election. The Shelby County Republican Party will sponsor a ba...

77. Archived Article: Women - Friday, April 26, 1996 04-26 Women By KATHLEEN DOMBHART BARK The Daily News Attorneys and litigants, both men and women alike, often address Judge Janice Holder as "hizzonner," a traditional one-word title of respect for those on the bench. "Both men and wo...